Demorest, GA on Feb 21, 2011

Going down to my basement there is a 4 x 15 foot hallway that I would like to place a floor covering on.

This hallway will be used alot. I have a small dog that goes out a doggie door leading to our back deck. Any suggestions on a floor covering for that area?

18 Comments

Paul Slayton Contracting San Diego, CA

For anything with high traffic and dogs going in an out, tile is the best bet for durability, but keeping the grout clean will be a problem. If the hallway is concrete and has a consistent finish, you might consider some kind of concrete finish, or staining. Also, consider garage floor epoxy paint. That may be the most cost-effective option from a maintenance and repair standpoint.

on Feb 21, 2011 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

I second the tile route...especially if this is on a concrete slab...tile over concrete is about as bomb as you can get

on Feb 21, 2011 · Like 0
Imagery Littleton, CO

Debra,
I have found that for long term, high traffic areas, especially with pets, tile is going to be your best bet. Carpet/rug runners may also help in keeping the grout cleaner as well....
If you can post some before and after pictures when you are done with this project, that would be fantastic! Good Luck!

on Feb 21, 2011 · Like 0
Steve G Fort Collins, CO

Fourth vote for tile. And it doesn't have to be a struggle to keep the grout clean. Here is a good method:
http://www.askthebuilder.com/Cleaning_Tile_F...

on Feb 21, 2011 · Like 0
Hudson Designs Loganville, GA

5th Tiles is the best way to go.

on Feb 21, 2011 · Like 0
General Construction and ... Hoschton, GA

6th on the tile! what about the stairs? is there anything on them now?

on Feb 21, 2011 · Like 0
Debra Demorest, GA

I know the vote is tile but what about laminated wood? As far as the stairs go. There is nothing on them. These stairs are "builder grade" stairs and need some work.

on Feb 22, 2011 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

By builders grade I'm guessing you mean plain old 2 x 12? If the risers are open laminate may be tough to work in..the treads would be ok..but setting the stair nosing would be a bit unsupported. In the house I grew up in we simply painted the treads...until years later when we remodeled the "rec" room

on Feb 22, 2011 · Like 0
Paul Slayton Contracting San Diego, CA

Though tile is the best option for the area, and many people would argue against it, you can put wood down in the area. Just realize that it is likely it will get damaged from water and grit tramped in from outside. I prefer wood and would use it in many places others would not, but in this case I don't think wood is a good idea. The value of wood is in its look and feel under your feet. These qualities would be lost in an area that is an accessway. As for the stairs, tile them too. ...»
You can use wood nosings on the treads to relieve the monotony of all that tile. Use something hard, like oak, maple, or even ipe.

on Feb 22, 2011 · Like 0
Darby C Flowery Branch, GA

The thing about laminate wood is that it is just a thin veneer of wood on top of plywood and cannot be refinished. With the dog entering and leaving the house, water, dirt, and scratches will shorten the life of the laminate wood. Most of the time, when you stain step treads, you put a runner of carpet up the middle of the stairs and only leave about 6 or 8 inches of the tread showing. That could be either stained or painted to match the tile.

on Feb 22, 2011 · Like 0
TaCora Design Smyrna, GA

I would go tile.

on Feb 22, 2011 · Like 0
Paul Slayton Contracting San Diego, CA

Laminates usually have enough wood on the finished surface to be sanded and refinished one or two times. Carpet would not be a good idea in this condition.

on Feb 22, 2011 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

I know of NO laminates that can be re-finished...the top layer is acrylic...over an image of some kind...no wood in there at all.
Some engineered wood flooring has a real wood layer on top and some of these can be re-finished...it all depends on how thick that real wood layer is.
The most recent engineered project I installed had a Real wood layer that was about 1mm ...»
thick...not thick enough to refinish...The top wood layer should be at least 1/4 thick to refinish.

on Feb 22, 2011 · Like 0
Paul Slayton Contracting San Diego, CA

You are right, KMS, I was thinking engineered wood when I typed laminate. Laminates, like Pergo, can't be refinished. Not to go into too much detail, but 1mm is too thin to refinish. The engineered wood floors I've worked with have all have a 1/8" to 3/16" top layer, which is good enough for at least one refinishing.

on Feb 22, 2011 · Like 0
Sean W Atlanta, GA

A solid sheet of vinyl tile off the roll works great and has no seams to lift.

on Feb 22, 2011 · Like 0
Allison B Smyrna, GA

I don't know if this is a feasible option for you, but a friend of mine wanted laminate in their finished basement. Since they have a pool, they made a tile "pathway" from the outside door to the basement bathroom in between the laminate to handle the high traffic area that could withstand all the water that was tracked in.

on Feb 22, 2011 · Like 0
Brent B Woodstock, GA

Second vote for vinyl tile. It doesn't have to be a particularly nice hallway. Having an upscale floor covering isn't going to make or break a sale.

on Feb 22, 2011 · Like 0
Shannon Canton, GA

Berber. We have that through out our basement entertainment room. We have had it for about 10 years and it still looks good as new. Berber wears well and it's easy to clean.

on Mar 31, 2011 · Like 0